photos by Holly Roach

Reverb Brothers, Split Lip Rayfield warm up for Reverend Heat
by Pop Writer Doug Hill, Norman Transcript, August 26th, 2005

The Reverb Brothers
Brothers Basile Kolliopoulos (guitar/vocals), Marty Dillon (drums) and new bassist Casey Friedman were as hardcore as a wild night in Mabel Basset Correctional Center. Their song about rain was a percussion downpour.

The Brothers' funk fog was made heavier by bone rattling volume. Basile's a mysterious man who stirs Delta blues, Blue Cheer and blue bedroom lights into a bittersweet brew. Middle Eastern cadences collided with fundamental soul chords. An attractive woman in the audience did a compelling bump and grind to the music while her male escort stood motionless, arms akimbo. The Brothers' intensity fed off the amplification. Their dark, threatening show was over in a flash.

Split Lip Rayfield
Remarkable three-part vocal harmonization was only one of this trio's charms. They played with fearless creativity that caused the crowd to roar after the first number's hot 90 seconds. Split Lip's an amazing amalgam of pistolero anarchy and bloody Kansas bluegrass. Country roads intersect punk alleys at every turn.

"I can't stand losing you," Rundstrom sang, sounding like 1962 Ozark Jubilee beamed through a 21st century satellite. Their show was dead-on fury. The trio was well above journeyman level and they shared leads democratically. It worked famously.

SLR's albums on Bloodshot Records couldn't be on a more apt label. Come on Winfield Bluegrass Festival, take the stick out of your ass and book them in '06.

Reverend Horton Heat
As usual, the Rev's greasy rockabilly three-piece was loud, sloppy and fun. He's been a touring tank for many moons. "I did something I should never do. I went on the Internet," Heat said early in the show. He revealed someone had posted a complaint that their set list hadn't changed in 10 years. As remedy, the Rev entertained requests.
Maybe not such a good idea. It resulted in a fast and loose "Folsom Prison Blues." The set's pleasant surprise was an instrumental cover of Henry Mancini's theme song for movie "A Shot In the Dark."

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